Boiler-tube cleaner



(N0 Model.)

S. KELLY.

A BOILER TUBE CLEANER.

Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYLVANUS KELLY, OF FREMONT, OHIO.

BOILER-TU BE CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,646, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed 3eptember 14, 1889. Serial No. 323,921. (No model.)

' from the inner and outer surfaces of the tubes.

With these general objects in view the invention consists incertain features 'of construction hereinafter specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figurel represents a perspective of a tube-cleaner constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a detail in per spective of a modified construction of hammer, and Fig. 4 a detail of the plunger.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 represents the handle, which is hollow, as at 2, and has threaded upon its lower end a plunger-tube '3, of larger bore, the forward end of the handle forming a shoulder at the rear end of the plunger-tube. A collar 5 is threaded 011 the forward end of the plungertube and from the same there projectforwardly in this instancethree hammers 6. The hammers 6 have their inner faces gradually enlarged toward their free end, as at 7 and the shanks of the dogs are of spring metal and secured to the outer surface of the collar.

8 represents the plunger-rod, mounted in the bore of the handle, and 9 the plunger, mounted in the plunger-tube and adapted to be withdrawn therein until its rear abuts against the shoulders in the tube. The front end of the plunger-tube is pointed or cone-shaped, as at 10.

The device herein shown is adapted for use in cleaning fire-tube boilers, and its operation is as follows: The tendency of the springshanks being to maintain the hammers in a closed position, the device is readily introduced into a tube, and by reciprocating the plunger through the medium of its rod the same is brought into sudden contact with the curved faces of the hammers, thus imparting expansion to the same and giving the wall of the tube a series of shocks adapted to loosen the accumulations adhering both to the interior and exterior surfaces thereof.

In instances where the boiler is of the water-tube class it is necessary to provide some means for chipping or cutting the accumulated foreign matter, and this is accomplished by providing each of the hammers, near their free ends, with transversely-disposed laterally-proj ecting blades or chisels 11, as shown in Fig. 3. The operation of the hammers thus provided is the same as that. just described, the chisel merely acting to chip or cut the incrustation from the inner surface of the tube. At the same time the shock serves to loosen the soot and other accumulations from the exterior surface of the tube.

Having described my invention, .what I claim is 1. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination, with a hollow handle, of a series of spring-hammers, the inner faces of which are enlarged at their front ends, and a plunger mounted for reciprocation between the hammers, having a rod projecting through the handle, substantially as specified.

2. In a boiler-cleaner, a hollow handle and a plunger-tube connected with the handle having a series of spring-metal hammers 6v secured thereto, having their inner faces enlarged and formed cam-shaped, combined with the plunger 8, running through the hollow handle and having a cone-shaped end adapted to engage the cam-shaped inner faces of the spring-hammers, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SYLVANUS KELLY. Witnesses:

J AMES I-I. FOWLER, ROLLIN S. McOULLooH. 

